My Happy Place

In true Talia fashion I am just now blogging about our little trip to the beach, which was almost three weeks ago.... "Delayed" is my middle name (or should be).



Close your eyes. Imagine yourself sitting on sand warmed by the sun, even while a cool salty breeze blows gently on your face and stirs your hair. Gulls fly overhead and all around, and the colors that surround you both dazzle and relax. And woven in, around, underneath and throughout all the sights and sounds is the ever-present song of the ocean.

This is exactly what I do when it's 110 degrees outside and you feel as if you could simply melt into the pavement and the confines of the house are altogether too small and... well, confining.

A few weeks ago I didn't have to imagine-- we actually went! It wasn't for long, only one night, but it was much-needed and oh-so-fun. We headed off to the coast after Jeremy got home from work and we had packed three kids and all the stuff that is required into our van. The drive went by so quickly, which was almost a shame. I love the drive to the beach, through the rolling hills and all the beautiful scenery. Our hotel was right in Pismo and we went straight there so we could check in. As soon as we opened our car doors and felt that breeze and the COOL air, I was deliriously happy. Even though we hadn't even really glimpsed the ocean yet, it just felt like the beach.

Happily, it worked out that Kourtni and her little family were spending the week at their grandparents' beach house, so after a quick bite to eat we headed over there to hang out with them. The kids played, the babies sprawled across the shag carpet, the adults drank wine and talked. It was so fabulously fun... and, kind of funny. You see, we literally live a block from each other in the same neighborhood, and yet we almost never just hang out. We couldn't help but laugh at the fact that we had to drive all the way to the coast just to spend some time together.

Andy, Kourtni's husband, taking in the beautiful view from the beach house

On Saturday, after a delicious (and complimentary!) breakfast at our hotel, we headed back up to the beach house so we ladies could leave our husbands and children behind while we went for some lunch and shopping in San Luis. It was perfect timing, since our church was having a ladies' retreat at the coast that weekend (Kourtni and I couldn't go, because of the babies), so we were able to meet up with some of them. I lunched at Novo with sister Jessica and several other very
lovely ladies, and then proceeded to find a fabulous shirt for only $12 at an adorable boutique. Definitely a great afternoon!

And then, finally, finally, after our shopping adventures had ended, it was time to be on the beach. We left our dear friends and Jeremy and the girls and I headed over to Avila where the weather and sunshine were pure perfection. Simply put, we had a wonderful time. Daddy and Emma and Annabelle had a fun time building sand castles together and we all got a chance to play in the waves.

Seashells were found, great holes were dug, and snacks were consumed. It really doesn't matter what you do on the beach, because it's the beach. Just being there is fun and relaxing.

Rosalie pretty much hung out in her stroller and was a perfect little peach. I've noticed that she loves to be outside and take things in.

Sadly, after a little while, poor little Annabelle got some sand in her eye and spent the rest of our time on the beach laying on our blanket just like this:

I do believe she fell asleep... which isn't a bad idea, in my book. I wouldn't have minded napping right along with her!

We were not in any rush to leave the beach and go get some dinner, so it actually ended up being very late by the time we got back home to Bakersfield. But every minute spent between the sand and the sky with the ocean before us was totally and completely worth it.

see that smile? That's my I'm-so-incredibly-happy-because-I'm-at-the beach-with-the-people-I-love smile.


yes indeed, I'd go back in a heartbeat!

ps. thanks go to my honey for the beautiful pictures. I'm so glad he was in a picture-taking mood, because I really wasn't. That's why there are no picture of me and Kourtni or any of the other ladies... oh well.

{tasty tuesdays} the return! (well, sort of)

Hey, so, do you all remember back in the day when "tasty tuesdays" was something I did on this blog?? Wasn't that, like, eons ago??? :)

Obviously, that little feature fell by the wayside, due to pregnancy, a new baby, and laziness on my part in both cooking and posting. And I don't think I'd neccesarily do a great job keeping up even still, if I were to start it up again. But, I do miss it. I miss the motivation it gave me to seek out great recipes, and how fun it was to share them all with you and get feedback and opinions.

So!! I've decided to bring tasty tuesdays back, only not as tasty tuesdays. Instead, I'm going to call this feature "simply scrumptious" and just post a recipe whenever I have one I want to share, rather than committing to a specific day each week. Now THAT, I can handle.

To begin again, I give you a recipe for something any and all people love( right?):
COOKIES.
My brother Elijah is here visiting us right now (he helped me re-name tasty tuesdays!), and these are some of his favorites, which is why I had to bake them. And the hubby certainly didn't mind either...


Butterfinger Cookies

1/2 cup butter (no substitutes), softened
3/4 cup sugar
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 egg whites
1 1/4 cups peanut butter
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
5 Butterfinger candy bars (2.1 oz each), coarsely chopped

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add egg whites. beat well. Blend in peanut butter and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Stir in candy bars. Shape into 1 1/2 inch balls; place on greased baking sheets. Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks.

Chewy. Peanut-buttery. Chocolatey. SO YUM. You may want to plan a trip to the gym after you make these... I had to. :)

Sunshiny with a chance of storms

No, I'm not talking about the weather.

I'm referring to the personality of my beloved middle child, our Annabelle.

Sometimes, she is pure sunshine and rainbows, full of laughter and smiles that would delight even the hardest of hearts.

Other times... NOT SO MUCH.

She can somehow manage to be the best and worst part of my day. Brings me to tears and frustration like no other and then, only moments later, melts my heart into a puddle of love.

She's our little walking conundrum, a 29-lb. paradox with fluffy blonde curls and big blue eyes.

I'll be honest, there are days when I simply don't know what to do with her anymore... I find myself wondering what I'm doing wrong (or NOT doing right). I wonder when she's going to learn how much pain and trouble she causes herself (and therefore, me as well) by throwing her tantrums about the silliest of things. Something still hasn't quite clicked within her when it comes to what behavior is acceptable and what is most definitely not.

But, she's three. She's strong-willed and incredibly passionate-- qualities that will be a wonderful trait someday even if they are sometimes misplaced now. I know it will take time for her to learn. Time, LOTS of prayer, and much (oh, SO much) patience as we try to guide and instruct her. The Lord is definitely using this child of mine to teach ME some lessons as well. I've seen my own shortcomings as a parent so much more clearly with Annabelle, and I know that I've got a long ways to go too. Together, we're growing, slowly but surely.

In the meanwhile, I'll choose my battles carefully with this daughter of mine. I will celebrate the little victories. Even if it's only that she went potty without crying when I asked her to.

And I will delight in everything else that my little girl has to offer. Her laughter, which is simply the best-- it is so infectious that you can't help but laugh too. Her smiles, which are so genuine and huge that they wrinkle up her nose and light up her eyes.

Her obvious delight in even the littlest things as she claps her hands and dances around on her very tippiest of toes. Her sweet voice, and the funny way she says things, turning words and phrases around as only a child can. Her wonderful imagination-- she can play for hours at all sorts of pretend games, and she certainly has a knack for "dressing up".


She is an adoring sister. I can see how much she looks up to Emma and wants to be just like her, not even wanting to be apart for a minute.


It's amazing to see her as a big sister. She can hardly go five minutes without talking to Rosalie or loving on her in some way. Annabelle has a special voice reserved just for her baby sister, and it's the cutest thing ever. When we go somewhere, Annabelle always says, without fail "We need to bring Rosalie!" I look at her and marvel, very aware of the special place she holds in our family as both little sister AND big sister.


Let's not forget about her hair. Yes, really, her hair. It is seriously one of the joys in my life, and it makes me smile. When I greet her first thing in the morning or after a nap I know I will see this:

It always looks like this after she sleeps, a wild halo of unruly golden curls. We call her "Annabelle Fluffyhead", which she always protests (with a huge smile... I think she secretly likes her nickname).

If you have ever been around Annabelle for any length of time, you might notice something about her: she doesn't really walk. She runs, she jumps, she dances. Always, always on her tippy-toes, no matter where she goes. When I watch her flit from room to room the word "blithe" comes to mind.


There is no one quite like our Annabellesie-boo. God never gives us more than we can handle, and although there are some days when I rather feel as if He DID when He gave us this girl, I simply can't imagine life without her. Whether she is driving us to frustration with her stormy side or lighting up our life with her sunny spirit, we love her. Oh, SO dearly.

Tonight, I am...

...craving chocolate. Mmm, what I wouldn't give for a bar of Ghiradelli dark with mint filling.

...thinking of the million blog posts I should get around to writing, as well as the oodles of comments I've been meaning to leave for others. Strictly speaking, I've made many comments on many lovely blogs-- they just all happen to be in my head.

...so very very tired of my children. It sounds awful, but somedays being a mom is just very exhausting and trying. Today was one of those days. However, tomorrow is a new day, thank goodness!

...incredibly sore. The gym is kicking my butt. And I'm loving it.

...missing many family members. Parents, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, grandmas. I would give even more for a great big family get-together filled with lots of hugs than I would for that Ghiradelli chocolate!

...so excited that I DO get to see my brother Elijah on Sunday! He's coming all the way from Virginia, and will be meeting Rosalie for the very first time. I can't wait!

...baking cookies for my husband. Because he loves cookies and I love him.

...wondering if the fact that I am going to spin class tomorrow would justify me eating several of the said cookies. Hmmm.

...watching Chopped with Jeremy. We heart the Food Network (and cuddling!).

...using cloth diapers for the very first time! I'm excited, and curious. We'll see how this goes!

...wanting to go back to the beach. And stay there. All summer long, preferably.

...hungering for a really good girl talk.

...wanting to find the perfect Scripture to end my day on the right note.

...too lazy to find any pictures to go with this post. Deal with it. :)

And that is me on a Tuesday evening. How are you, friends??

The Red Crib

Once upon a time there was a girl who had a baby. This baby had a crib, of course, which was worn from years of use and other little girls with teeth who liked to chew on things.

So, one day the girl decided to paint it. "Red," she mused. "I think red would be the most delightful color." She blithefully got out her brushes and a can of cheery red paint and started painting. And kept painting. And painting. And painting. Would it really take a million coats to make it look fine? Could it be that the slats were multiplying as she went along?? And where did this drip come from? And this one? and this one and this one and this one????

Finally, at looooong last, the task was finished. And even though the results were exactly what she had envisioned and she knew her little one would have many nights of happy dreams therein, she solemnly swore that she would never, no never, not as long as she lived, paint another crib again.




The end.

she's on to me.

We recently bought a kiddie pool for the backyard, so that the girls would be able to do SOMETHING outside in this heat. It's a good thing, a NECESSARY thing, to be able to send them out for some fun (and to get them out of the house) without them roasting to death in our oven of a backyard. I simply can't stand having my kids running around the house all. day. long. It's too much craziness for me-- they're kids, and they need to expend some energy, but I'd prefer they not do it inside! However, I have a love/hate relationship with kiddie pools... yes, they're great for keeping the kids entertained, but they are also a huge PAIN. The water gets so dirty so quickly, the sides start to form algae... you get the picture. And then Mommy has to empty all the water out (usually using a bucket since it's too heavy to dump), hose the whole thing off, and refill it again. Not my favorite thing to have to spend time doing.

Anyway, this morning the pool had reached that point and I hadn't yet gotten around to cleaning it out. Emma and Annabelle were, of course, wanting to go swimming today, and they were asking me every five minutes when their pool would be ready for them again. I finally told them I would get to it when I get to it and would you PLEASE stop bugging me about it, thankyouverymuch.

And Emma, who is always ready with a response, came back with this:

"But Mommy, you SAID that we could go swimming EVERY SINGLE DAY, so we don't make you go insane."

oops... did I say that out loud?

this girl, she knows me well. :)